<p>I had an email conversation with two profs in Michigan’s HBHE today. They introduced me to some projects they’re working on and I’m really interested. </p>
<p>They went in to more detail about the flexibility of the program. Only half of my credits need to be within HBHE which leaves ~30 credits for other things including International Relations, Women’s Studies, Policy, etc. I’ve always, ALWAYS preferred flexibility over rigid programs- it’s why I joined a residential college. </p>
<p>Something my mom pointed out was that if I wanted to go abroad, I could without fear of needing to make rent while doing an international internship. As I would like to get a certificate in global health, this is really nice. </p>
<p>It’s a good point. </p>
<p>I’m going to visit Michigan on Friday for their Admitted Students day. I’m actually really excited now :)</p>
<p>Columbia was generous enough to give me a large enough scholarship to cover everything but 10k of tuition each year. However, I’d have to take out fairly substantial loans to cover the outrageous rent in NYC. I would really prefer to not have to do that. </p>
<p>On top of that, I’m not a huge fan of large cities. I have an irrational fear of skyscrapers (blame on being in the 9/11 generation) and I have some social anxiety around large groups of people. I would really like to stay in the midwest or a larger liberal city in the south (ATL, NOLA) if possible. I’ve lived in many different areas of the country and the midwest is where I like :). </p>
<p>(Although it’s secretly my dream to live in the PNW- bd, you got room for me? :p)</p>
<p>Academically, I’ve talked to some students in the program and they were just not nearly as enthusiastic about the program as others I’ve talked to. There is about 0 flexibility in the program because of this new integrated core system they have. I thought I would like that but the students say that because it’s brand new (just started this year) it has a lot of kinks that they’re having a hard time working out. </p>
<p>Other schools I’ve been admitted to are: Arizona, Pittsburgh, Tulane, Emory, Minnesota, and George Washington. I’ve been offered a scholarship to MN as well but it was not enough to make it more appealing than Michigan or SLU.</p>
<p>You might like this, Seattle was named #1 in a poll of 50 major cities lately, for people who consider comfort as a top fashion priority. See, I knew we were the top slobs in the nation! And proud of it. I’m sure Portland comes close.</p>
<p>So when you’re finally settling down, you might put that into consideration.</p>
<p>On that note, now I’m going out for breakfast in my running clothes. And I’ll still get great service, and nobody will look at me funny.</p>
<p>busdriver–they must not have visited Burlington, VT. We are clearly contenders in the slob contest. It is so wonderful to not have to care about clothing. Makes it easier to stay warm too!</p>
<p>OP–oddly it was ASU where I suddenly decided to go for my PhD.</p>
<p>I always prefer comfort over style. (Another mark against NYC? lol). I <3 sweats. I don’t even care if that makes me a slob lol. I think it comes from having such a hard time finding jeans long enough for me (6’, all legs). Straight-leg sweats fit so much better.</p>
<p>bethie, my mom took some classes at ASU when she was living in Arizona. She loves AZ and wants to return. </p>
<p>I actually really like the curriculum at Arizona but the OOS tuition isn’t worth it. Tuscon would be an awesome place to live for a few years there. I’ve heard it’s absolutely gorgeous.</p>
<p>I live in NYC and have gone out to the store/eat in running clothes - never felt uncomortable or like people were giving me dirty looks. NYC has all sorts of different people with all sorts of different styles and clothes. I love it here :)</p>
<p>Good point, scout. Plus in moving home, I could go back to work with my 2nd favorite hockey team (which, btw, has produced James Neal, Jared Boll, etc ). How could I ever leave my Wings?!</p>
<p>OP–it does start sounding like Michigan might be your best bet. It was wonderful spending 3 winters in AZ, but you can move there later if you want. I lived in Tempe and it is beautiful. This was in the early 80s though and the whole area has grown like crazy, lots more traffic. I got an assistantship that paid my OOS tuition, so that was a good deal, but you probably couldn’t get that in a Masters program. The idea of living at home to keep expenses down makes all kinds of sense. Sounds like your Mom really wants you there which is sweet!</p>
<p>I agree, bethie. I think Michigan is going to be my best bet for so many reasons. I’m really excited about grad school now :)</p>
<p>My parents are actually moving away and renting the house out to me. I already have roommates who are willing to pay the rent so it’s free to me (yes, the roommates know but it’s cheaper than an apartment so they don’t care). This is the only house we’ve lived in that I’ve ever liked and I LOVE it.</p>
<p>And if I ever do want to go to Emory or something, there’s always time for my PhD or DrPH. </p>
<p>I have indeed decided on Michigan after visiting and talking to professors and current students. I’m going on Friday to an admitted students day but I wanted a more one-on-one experience and they were incredibly accommodating. </p>
<p>Unless something radically changes, I’ll be in Ann Arbor come fall. Thank you all for helping me think through some things :)</p>
<p>I’ve just retired from a career in public health (and had no degree in it whatsoever, never even a course as an undergraduate, but I was a special case.) The job market is very, very, very hard. With the defunding of public Medicaid clinics in 1990, the surpluses that used to pay for public health professionals in communities was radically reduced, and I doubt that, at least in my state, there are even half as many public health professionals as there were 20 years ago. (Most of the jobs seem to be in some part of environment health - drinking water, shoreline protection, etc. - requiring specialized training. Tobacco settlement dollars are exhausted. Jobs never paid much - you’d always eat with one, and do work you could be proud of, but it is not very lucrative.</p>
<p>I’d go to Michigan. The pool of potential contacts is much larger, the special opportunities that might come your way that you can’t even know at this point are more likely to turn up there. You are not likely to end up working in either Michigan or Missouri.
And people outside of Michigan (or Missouri) have heard of it.</p>
). How could I ever leave my Wings?!</p>